TechCrunch Startup News FieldAI raises $405M to build universal robot brains and Y Combinator says Apple’s App Store has hindered startup growth
Aug 27, 2025
FieldAI has made waves by raising $405 million to develop cutting-edge AI models that empower robots to learn and adapt using physics. Their vision promises a future where robots can make smarter decisions in various environments. Additionally, Y Combinator is pushing back against Apple’s App Store policies, arguing that the high fees inhibit startup innovation and growth. This legal battle highlights the ongoing tensions between tech giants and emerging companies in the ever-evolving startup landscape.
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Physics-First Robot Brains
- Field AI develops physics-rooted foundational models to let robots generalize across platforms and environments.
- Adding physics gives robots extra information to make safer, more confident decisions in novel settings.
Confidence And Risk As Core Outputs
- Incorporating physics into models reduces risky hallucinations and yields confidence-aware actions.
- The network reports confidence and lets customers set risk thresholds that change robot behavior.
Founder’s Long Trajectory
- Ali Agha has decades of experience across NASA and MIT before founding Field AI.
- He launched the company after a breakthrough that let one robot brain work across different robot types.